Category: Inclusive Robotics

Posted on

Quo Vadis, CYBATHLON?

Ten years ago, the CYBATHLON was held for the first time. It marked the beginning of a fascinating and inspiring project centered on inclusive AI and inclusive robotics. The competition – bringing together people with disabilities and impairments to compete with and against one another – was founded by Prof. Dr. Robert Riener of ETH Zurich. At the 2016 CYBATHLON, SRF host Tobias Müller spoke five times with Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel, a technology philosopher from Zurich, who provided context and evaluation regarding the use of implants, prosthetics, and robots. On one occasion, Prof. Dr. Lino Guzzella, then President of ETH Zurich, also took part; on another, Robert Riener joined the discussion. The most recent edition of the CYBATHLON took place in 2024. A total of 67 teams from 24 nations competed across eight disciplines at the SWISS Arena in Kloten near Zurich, as well as at seven interconnected hubs in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Hungary, Thailand, and South Korea. The website currently states: “While CYBATHLON’s journey at ETH Zürich ends here, the story is far from over. The next edition of the event may take place in Asia in 2028, marking an exciting new chapter for this unique global competition.” (CYBATHLON website) This would allow a success story to continue – once again not in Europe, but in Asia (Photo: ETH Zürich, CYBATHLON/Alessandro della Bella).

Posted on

Towards Inclusive AI and Inclusive Robotics

The article “Wearable Social Robots for the Disabled and Impaired” by Oliver Bendel was published on December 23, 2025. It is part of the volume “Social Robotics + AI: 17th International Conference, ICSR+AI 2025, Naples, Italy, September 10–12, 2025, Proceedings, Part III.” From the abstract: “Wearable social robots can be found on a chain around the neck, on clothing, or in a shirt or jacket pocket. Due to their constant availability and responsiveness, they can support the disabled and impaired in a variety of ways and improve their lives. This article first identifies and summarizes robotic and artificial intelligence functions of wearable social robots. It then derives and categorizes areas of application. Following this, the opportunities and risks, such as those relating to privacy and intimacy, are highlighted. Overall, it emerges that wearable social robots can be useful for this group, for example, by providing care and information anywhere and at any time. However, significant improvements are still needed to overcome existing shortcomings.” The technology philosopher presented the paper on September 12, 2025, in Naples. It can be downloaded from link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-95-2398-6_8.